On the edge of Crimea

The southern region of Ukraine united Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa regions into a single economic macro-region after the Autonomous Republic of Crimea occupation by the Russian Federation. Today, the Black Sea and the Azov Sea regions need a complete rethinking of their role in the economy and security of the country.

The south has long ceased to be just a tourist asset of the state. Due to the hostilities in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea, the question of strengthening the region’s resilience to internal and external threats arose, overcoming the negative consequences in the socio-economic and socio-political spheres of the region.

This year, the Ukrainian government plans to implement pilot projects for the construction of irrigation systems in the southern regions. Because even in the global economic crisis, the Black Sea agro-industrial complex remains one of the few export-oriented sectors of the economy. This is where the unique Kakhovka irrigation system (one of the largest in Europe) is located. After complete modernization, it will be able to provide irrigation of lands in the south of Ukraine with an area of ​​780 thousand hectares.

The Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine is also convinced that the modernization of irrigation systems in the southern regions is an important condition for realizing the agricultural potential of the state, increasing agricultural production and strengthening leadership in global agricultural markets. That is why the cooperation of the heads of regional state administrations is aimed at revealing this competitive advantage of the South, changing the specialization of agricultural production, developing the maritime complex, developing the resort and recreational sphere and increasing the number of local budgets. Such concrete steps will strengthen the strategic positions of the Black Sea and the Azov Sea regions as a potential showcase for Crimea.